At least two MacBook Pro models that are rumored to debut in the second half of 2021 will come equipped with an SD card reader and HDMI port, according to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Adding details to previous predictions, Kuo, in a note to investors on Tuesday, said the additions will come with a major design change, which includes more options for external device connectivity. Apple has reduced the MacBook’s I / O choices to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 over the past six years. Switching to a more inclusive mobile platform will be a welcome addition for those on the dongle.
The MacBook Pro last included an SD card slot and an HDMI port in 2015, and later models completely avoid those parts.
Genesys Logic appears to be the exclusive supplier of the controller for the future SD card reader and could play a bigger role in Apple’s product line going further, says Kuo. The company may be up to date to complete orders for a hardware upgrade expected in the USB 4.0 protocol.
In a report last month, Kuo said he expects Apple to launch 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro mini variants that boast a “flat-edged” look, more in line with modern design language. the company. The first of these angular devices was the iPad Pro 2018, last year’s iPhone 12 series closely following the example.
Also resurrected from previous MacBooks will be MagSafe charging technology, a version of which was introduced with the iPhone 12 series last year. The much-touched OLED Touch Bar will receive the boot in favor of the physical function buttons, according to Kuo.
The analyst predicts a release in the third quarter.
As a result of new design changes and specifications, Kuo expects global MacBook deliveries to grow by 25% to 30% year-on-year to reach 20 million units by 2021.